The Slogan
The Big Heart
Date Of Creation
27 August 1991
See Also: About The 36 States Of Nigeria
Geography
The state covers a landmass of about 18,050 km2 (6,970 sq mi), of which more than 60% is land. The state lies approximately between 5°00′ and 6°45′ E and 5°00′ and 6°30′ N. It is geographically located in Nigeria’s midwest, bounded in the north and west by Edo State, the east by Anambra, Imo, and Rivers States, southeast by Bayelsa State, and on the southern extreme is the Bight of Benin which covers about 160 kilometres of the state’s coastline. Delta State is generally low-lying without any remarkable hills. The state has a wide coastal belt inter-lace with rivulets and streams, which form part of the Niger River Delta.
Brief History
Delta State was defined out of the former Bendel State on 27 August 1991. The state was actualized following agitations for the realization of a separate distinct state by the peoples of the old Delta Province. There was yet another state request proposed as “Anioma State” comprising the Asaba and Agbor divisions of the old Midwest region. The then Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, recognized Delta state but chose “Asaba” a prominent town within the “Northwestern Lower Niger” as capital city. The proposed capital was a virgin land in the heart of the two constituent divisions that constitutes the Northwestern Lower Niger. Delta state was once integrated in the Mid Western state from 1963 to 1976 and later Bendel state, from 1976 to 1991. The name “Bendel” (Ben-Del) coined from the old Benin and Delta Provinces of Western Region-Delta to reflect the integration of Benin and Delta provinces.
The Local Government area
| Delta Central Senatorial District | 1,575,738 | Delta North Senatorial District | 1,293,074 | Delta South Senatorial District | 1,229,282 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethiope East | 200,942 | Aniocha North | 104,062 | Bomadi | 86,016 | ||
| Ethiope West | 202,712 | Aniocha South | 142,045 | Burutu | 207,977 | ||
| Okpe | 128,398 | Ika North East | 182,819 | Isoko North | 143,559 | ||
| Sapele | 174,273 | Ika South | 167,060 | Isoko South | 235,147 | ||
| Udu | 142,480 | Ndokwa East | 103,224 | Patani | 67,391 | ||
| Ughelli North | 320,687 | Ndokwa West | 150,024 | Warri North | 136,149 | ||
| Ughelli South | 212,638 | Oshimili North | 118,540 | Warri South | 311,970 | ||
| Uvwie | 188,728 | Oshimili South | 150,032 | Warri South West | 116,538 | ||
| Ukwuani | 119,034 |
The Governor
Arthur Okowa Ifeanyi,
The Deputy governor
Kingsley Otuaro
The Senators
C: Ovie Omo-Agege (APC)
N: Peter Nwaoboshi (APC)
S: James Manager (PDP)
Representatives
| NAME | PARTY | CONSTITUENCY | TERM |
| Ben Rollands Igbakpa | PDP | Ethiope | 2019–till date |
| Francis E. Waive | APC | Ughelli North/South/Udu | 2019–till date |
| Ossai Ossai | PDP | Ndokwa/Ukwani | 2011–till date |
| Efe Afe | PDP | Opke/Sapele/Uvwie | 2019–till date |
| Leo Ogor | PDP | Isoko North/South | 2003–till date |
| Nicholas Mutu | PDP | Burutu | 1999–till date |
| Thomas Ereyitomi | PDP | Warri | 2019–till date |
| Victor Nwokolo | PDP | Ika | 2011–till date |
| Ndudi Elumelu | PDP | Aniocha North/South | 2007–till date |
The Website
Major Cities
Asaba
Prominent Places
Falcorp Mangrove Park
The Araya Bible Site
The River Ethiope
The Mungo Park House
Mineral Resources
The population
Population (2006 census)
• Total 5,663,400
Postal Code
320001
Culture and tourism
Delta State has some historical, cultural and socio-political tourist centers that attract visitors from around the globe. Some of these sites of tourism include:
The Nana’s Palace built by Chief Nana Olomu of Ebrohim. He was a powerful 19th century indigenous entrepreneur who traded with the British. The relationship eventually turned sour. Later, he surrendered (not without putting up a fight) and was exiled to Ghana. His personal effects are housed in this grand palace.
The River Ethiope which is reputed to be the deepest inland waterway in Africa (at 176 km). Its source is at the foot of a giant silk-cotton tree at Umuaja in Ukwuani Local Government Area of the state and flows through seven Local Government Areas in the State. It is a place of worship for Olokun traditional religion and also a common site for faithfuls of the Igbe Religious Movement.
The Araya Bible Site which houses a copy of the Holy Bible. It is believed that the bible descended to this spot miraculously from heaven around August, 1914. The bible dropped on rain-soaked yam and it didn’t get wet. The site now attracts thousands of Christians yearly.
Demas Nwoko Edifice which was built using traditional materials, designs and construction techniques of the Igbo civilization by Demas Nwoko, an architect, builder and artist of international repute from Idumuje-Ugboko, in Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State.
The Mungo Park House which is now the site of the National Museum, Asaba. The house was constructed by the Royal Niger Company (RNC) in 1886 and was used as a colonial administrative headquarters, a military house, the colonial administrative divisional headquarters, the RNC Constabulary building, and the seat of the Urban District Council at different times.
The Ogulagha Beach
The Niger Bridge which connects Delta State (by extension, western Nigeria) to the Eastern part of Nigeria. It is a beauty to behold. It was completed in 1965 and cost £5 million. It was damaged during the civil war, but later repaired.
Lander Brothers Anchorage, Asaba which was built in memory of early British explorers. The complex has a museum, a graveyard, and many artworks and writings. It houses a replica of one of the boats that was used by the brothers.
Falcorp Mangrove Park
Warri Kingdom Royal Cemetery which is 512 year old burial ground and serves as the resting place of past rulers of Warri kingdom. A tree is planted on each grave.
Notable People
Francis Agoda aka I Go Dye, popular comedian across Africa and United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals Ambassador
Alibaba Akpobome, stand-up comedian and actor
Venita Akpofure, British-Nigerian actress and video vixen.
Rt Rev’d John U Aruakpor Bishop, Anglican Diocese of Oleh
Michael Ashikodi Agbamuche, former Attorney General & Minister for Justice of Nigeria
Udoka Azubuike, professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz, played at college for the University of Kansas
Bovi, Nigerian comedian, event host, Actor and skit maker.
John Pepper Clark, first professor of English in Africa, poet and writer
David Dafinone, Renowned Account/Politician
Paul Dike, Past Chief of Defence Staff.
Enebeli Elebuwa, Nigerian Actor
Tony Elumelu, UBA and Heirs Holdings.
Godwin Emefiele present CBN Governor
Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, Nigerian financial industry leader and politician.
Erigga, Nigerian Hip hop recording artist, songwriter.
Oghenekaro Etebo, Nigerian professional footballer.
Languages
| LGA | Languages |
|---|---|
| Aniocha North | Igbo |
| Aniocha South | Igbo |
| Burutu | Izon |
| Bomadi | Izon |
| Ethiope East | Urhobo, |
| Ethiope West | Urhobo |
| Ika North | Ika |
| Ika South | Ika |
| Isoko North | Isoko |
| Isoko South | Isoko |
| Ndokwa East | UkwuaniIsoko |
| Ndokwa West | Ukwuani |
| Oshimili North | Igbo |
| Oshimili South | Igbo |
| Okpe | Urhobo |
| Patani | Izon, Urhobo |
| Sapele | Urhobo, |
| Udu | Urhobo, |
| Ughelli North | Urhobo |
| Ughelli South | Urhobo |
| Ukwuani | Ukwuani |
| Uvwie | Urhobo, |
| Warri North | Itsekiri, Izon |
| Warri South | Urhobo, Itsekiri,Izon |
| Warri South West | Izon, Itsekiri |
Institutions
Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun
Delta State University
Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro
Delta State Polytechnics (two different Polytechnics, one at Oghara, and one at Ogwashi-Uku)
The Film and Broadcast Academy, Ozoro
College of Education (two different state colleges, one at Agbor and another at Warri).
Federal College of Education Technical, Asaba
College of Education, Mosogar
Delta State College of Health Technology, Ughelli
Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun
Western Delta University, Oghara
Novena University, Ogume-Amai
National Open University of Nigeria (three study centres, one at Asaba, one at Emevor and another at Owhrode).
Delta State School of Marine Technology, Burutu
Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Warri
Conarina School of Maritime & Transport Technology, Oria-Abraka
University of Information and Communication Technology, Agbor
State School of Midwifery, Asaba
School of Nursing (two schools, one at Agbor and another at Warri)
Baptist School of Nursing, Eku
Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo
Eagle Heights University, Omadino, Warri
Admiralty University of Nigeria at Ibusa and Sapel
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